Name:Sydney Ermongkonchai 1

Pen Design and Realization Design Brief

Did you know?

Much design goes into the development of a commercial ink pen. Ergonomics are a
consideration as many consumers know what fits their hand and many others are willing to try
something new.

Challenge

Create a design for an ink pen kit. The design of the pen is to fit your personal desires for
ergonomic feel and fit. After designing of the pen you are to utilize a pen kit and make the pen to
match your design, then evaluate your work.

Procedure
Utilize/document the parts of the Engineering Design Process, as seen below to complete the
challenge.
1) Sketch at least five (5) different store bought (commercial) pens.
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2) Create a comparison chart and list the attributes and drawbacks of each pen.

Pen (left to right) Attributes Drawbacks

Pen 1 ● Matches the grip of ● People that like to grip

hand (comfortable high won’t like this
grip) ● Forces you to grip the
pen low.

Pen 2 ● Slim design (looks ● Flat grip line may be

good to the eye) uncomfortable after
long periods of time
using this.

Pen 3 ● Curved grip is ● Sharp edges may be

comfortable to hold.
● The cut edges make
the pen more
appealing.
uncomfortable for
people with big hands
● Grip is a little high up,
so no good for people
who like to grip the
pen low.
● Forces you to grip the
pen at the middle.

Pen 4 ● A slim design (looks ● Weird grip for the

good to the eye)
● This curve can help
for a comfortable grip
for some people,
depending on how
you grip your pen.
hand, there is a bump
where you are writing.
● May cause
uncomfortable grip.

Pen 5 ● Sleek design ● The proportion from

● Comfortable grip, can
adjust the height of
your grip to the tip.
the upper part and the
lower part are not
equal, it looks weird.
(It would look better if
both were the same
size).

3) Utilize the comparison chart and create a list of desires for what you would want in a
pen.
● An arc that would curve outside the pen for the maximum comfort of the grip
● A slimmer design, not a fat pen with a fat grip.
● It must have the arc on the grip in the right place, not too high, or too low.
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● Tip shouldn’t be barely poking out of the pen, I like a tall tip.

4) Describe the ergonomic features in writing to defend your list.  

To write comfortably and efficiently, a pen needs have a nice grip that fits your style of
grip, so your hand will not cramp. I grip my pens not too low or too high, therefore I need
a grip that will be shaped outward and inward. A pen that is too thick will cramp my hand
after a long time writing with it too. The pen tip should not barely poke out of the pen or
poke out of the pen a lot. It should be at the right length that I feel comfortable with.

5) Sketch at least three (3) designs that include most or all of your desires.

6) Choose your design and draw your pen actual size with AutoCad or Inventor.

7) Follow the directions found on Canvas -- Week 1 and make the pen per your
design.

8) Evaluate your result through peer & self-evaluation to recognize how well you emulated and
realized your design, the pen for ergonomic fit and feel as compared individually and to peer’s
pens, and for craftsmanship.

9) Use your pen and report how you are proud of your work!
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Things to think about

1) Where can you go to sample five (5) different styles of pens?
1) How will you describe attributes and drawbacks?
2) How will you sketch three (3) separate designs that will work with the kit but still be
markedly different?
3) How do you make the pen match your design exactly?
4) What would an instrument look like to collect data about the match of design,
ergonomics, and craftsmanship of the pen? (This instrument is to be developed by the
class in a timely fashion so it can be utilized for peer evaluations.)
5) How do you finish your pen so it indicates a level of craftsmanship that you will want
to pass the pen to progeny or friend?

Pen Design and Realization Design Brief Grading Rubric

Pen Design Planning (Class Work Grade)

Five (5) different commercial pens are sketched 0 3 6 9 12 15

Five (5) comparison charts are completed for each pen 0 3 6 9 12 15

Comparison charts are utilized to create a list of desires in a pen. 0 5 10 15

Ergonomic features are described in writing to defend your list. 0 5 10 15 20

Three (3) unique designs are sketched for the pen kit 0 5 10 15

A design is chosen and drawn with AutoCad or Inventor 0 5 10 15 20

Total __________

______________________________________________________________________________

Pen Design Make and Evaluate (Project Grade)

The pen is made (Pen and Picture) 0 5 10 15 20

Evaluate: Three (3) peers utilize an evaluation instrument 0 20 40 60

to evaluate the following:
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Match of design.

Ergonomic (fit and feel based upon comparison of cohort).

Craftsmanship (e.g., turned surface free of marks, finish is smooth).

Proof of pride in work narrative: Write your personal 0 5 10 15 20

Evaluation of the experience and your work. Include
What you learned from the experience and from
peer evaluations. Include what you would do different
Next time. This writing is to be 100 words minimum.
Total __________

Pen Design and Realization Design Brief Outline/Checklist

Research Sketches

Comparison Charts

Comparison Chart Pen 1 Comparison Chart Pen 2 etc…

Attributes Drawbacks Attributes Drawbacks

List of Desires for Pen Developed from Comparison Charts

Sketches of Pen Designs (Three (3) minimum)

Technical Drawings (via AutoCad/Inventor, accurate, dimensioned)

Teacher approval to begin build. _____

The pen is made and finished per the instructions. _____

Evaluations (are performed and data are collected.)

Match of design

Ergonomic (fit and feel based upon comparison of cohort)

Craftsmanship Include a timeline for the work and needed resources and costs.
Pride in Work Narrative
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Pen Design Make and Evaluate

The pen is made

Evaluate
Carol
● Match of Design: Looks accurate
● Ergonomic: Fits my hand, the size of the grip fits my writing style. I like how you carved
it in the front since that is where I hold the grip.
● Craftsmanship: Very smooth, little to no marks, shiny finish, nice smooth roundness at
the grip.
●

Match of Design Ergonomic Craftsmanship

9 7 9

Julia
● Match of Design: The pen has more rounded ends of the wooden parts and your design is
a sharp edge. The curve in your design is rounded from the grip to straight at the top of
the first wood, yours is rounded all the way through. But the size is pretty accurate.
● Ergonomic: The grip is too big in my opinion. It is bigger than most pens and pencils. It
would be better if both sides were like the top wood.
● Craftsmanship: Pretty smooth, no prominent dips and chips I see.
●

Match of Design Ergonomic Craftsmanship

7 6 7
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Katie
● Match of Design: It matches the design, but the design is smaller than the actual pen.
● Ergonomic: The feel is great, the size of the grip is a little too big for me, but I could
write with this for a long time.
● Craftsmanship: Glue is not applied as much as the other places at the bottom edge of the
top wood part. You can see it is a little duller than the whole pen. The bottom wood part
is really smooth.
●

Match of Design Ergonomic Craftsmanship

6 8 9

What I learned
Looking at my evaluations, the highest average points out Match of Design, Ergonomic, and
Craftsmanship is Craftsmanship. I got an average of 8.3 because my design looked intricate and
enticing. I got a few points off because some of the glue did not reach the edges. The second
best is Match of Design with an average of 7.3. My pen looked like design, but a fatter version of
it. The diameter of the ben did not match the design because I didn’t know how much I could
chip off. I wanted to be safe and not sand off too much so I stopped too early. The last one was
the Ergonomics with an average of 7. Because I didn’t match my design as much as I wanted, the
pen was a little too big. Many peers said that compared to regular pens, this one had a thick grip.
Overall, I learned to trust your design because if you meet all the criteria and constraints and
thought through it well, your design should work out.
Personal
The process of brainstorming, designing, carving, and putting together my pen was a fun
experience. It took me a total of 3 days, and I learned what tools, machines, sandpaper, and
carving techniques to use to perfect my pen. Looking from my evaluations, I could’ve made the
wood parts a little smaller and follow by design a little more because I was afraid I would shave
off too much. My wood is the type to chip off a lot, so I made sure I had a lot of wood to sand off
first. The top wood is a little bumpy, probably from the glue finish. Next time I would trust my
design as to how thin I can get my pen, and carve a little more before I start sanding. I sanded too
early which was good to take all the chips out, but I would’ve had the same smooth finish.
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